Have people told you that you're brave?

Not so much being told I was brave, but that I have guts to do this. Some said it was very drastic thing to lose weight. I gave up on them. I'm off all my diabetic meds and down 26 pounds or so. 

I did what I needed for my health, that is all. 

I do think you have to be brave and determined to do this and to follow through to goal long term. When I was having my endo the anesthesiologist was talking to me about it. She asked it I have found it easy. I said nothing about it was easy. Food is hard, and it will always be hard. She had said she has seen many people and they have gained quite a bit back/all back. We talked about how much of this is a mental game and it really is. Rerouting of plumbing is one thing and I think you could probably do fairly well losing straight off due to the malabsorption (and eating crap food) but long term, does it really even matter if your head is not in the right place?

I didn't have this surgery to be skinny. I had it to save my life and to actually HAVE a life worth living.

Exactly! 

I haven't told many people that I plan on having surgery, and the few who do know (like close family and such) never really acknowledge it. Those who do are always extremely happy for me, and even make little comments about how great I will look. I don't want to be considered brave. I am human, I have made the mistake of allowing myself to get to this point, and now I am using this tool to help me correct said mistake. 

You live and you learn. 

Same. No, I never thought of it that way either. I feel very blessed to have had this surgery. Many others want to and can't because insurance companies suck.

UGH! I need to hang around new people! I have been told (by the few I shared with) that I am either just "lucky" for being able to get the surgery, which I am! But to them it is because I never have to "diet" or worry about weight gain again, is what they think!  Or I was  told what a huge mistake it would be and I would regret it! I was actually approved to have the surgery 10 years before under a different insurance company and didn't get it due to such negative support in my life. This time around, I didn't care what others thought/said I needed it for me! Thank goodness my husband has always been in my corner no matter what I decided. I AM lucky, but it is not that I don't work hard for my results! I wish ill informed people would give US a little more credit not just our "tool". My opinion.

I have heard it, and I think we are! 

 Not everyone can do what we do. Not everyone who is morbidly obese ever has the "Aha!" moment, and even if they do, they don't/can't commit to the surgery. 

Yes, I think we are brave!  I had not thought of it that way before, but I really like it.  Telling myself I am brave, will give me a confidence boost.  I really need boosts like that some days.

I used to be a cub scout leader, and we always taught the boys that "brave" and "courage" do not mean you are not scared.  Instead, they mean that you do the hard thing anyway.

It was brave to face the fact that my obesity really was my fault.  I have to face this scary fact about myself every day.

It was brave to have the surgery.

It was brave to be willing to give up so much related to food for the rest of my life.

It is brave to face, every day, the challenges of the new lifestyle.

Thanks for this!

I was told I was brave or courageous quite a few times .... not so much recently, as people are getting used to the 'new me'... I never hid that I had had it, but don't tell people the details such as how much I've lost, etc...